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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Ultrasound Procedures of the Pelvis Non-ObstetricalCPT cpt-76856-pelvic-ultrasound-diagnostic-imaging
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    CPT 76856: Pelvic Ultrasound, Diagnostic Real-Time Imaging

    Medicare pays $73 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 76856 describes a noninvasive pelvic ultrasound procedure that provides real-time imaging and recorded images of pelvic structures — for females: bladder, ovaries, uterus, cervix, and fallopian tubes; for males: bladder, prostate gland, and seminal vesicles. Service type: diagnostic ultrasound imaging. Typical site of service: outpatient imaging centers, hospital radiology departments, and clinic-based ultrasound suites where transabdominal pelvic sonography is performed and images are captured for the permanent record.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Abortion Services, Prolonged Services for Labor Management, Prolonged Services for Labor Management.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is a reproductive-age female presenting to an outpatient radiology or women's health clinic with pelvic pain, abnormal uterine bleeding, or evaluation for suspected ovarian cyst. The patient arrives for a noninvasive diagnostic pelvic ultrasound (76856) performed by a sonographer with images interpreted by a radiologist or obstetrician-gynecologist. The workflow: registration and verification of indications; patient change and bladder instruction (full or empty as clinically indicated); acquisition of transabdominal and/or limited transvaginal images as needed; image documentation and permanent recording; radiologist review and final documented interpretation in the electronic medical record. Typical sites of service include hospital outpatient imaging departments, freestanding imaging centers, and ambulatory clinics. The procedure assesses the bladder, uterus, cervix, ovaries, and adnexa in females and may be used to evaluate urinary retention or pelvic masses prior to further management.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    76830Ultrasound, transvaginalOften performed in conjunction with 76856 when higher-resolution evaluation of the uterus and adnexa is needed.
    76857Pelvic ultrasound, limited or follow-upUsed for focused or limited follow-up studies when the full 76856 is not necessary.
    93975Duplex scan of extremity veins (unrelated example)Data not applicable — provided related codes list was empty; see clinically associated pelvic imaging codes above.
    76604Ultrasound of abdomen, limitedMay be performed with pelvic ultrasound when evaluation extends to the lower abdomen or bladder assessment.

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    91Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…
    95Modifier 95 indicates that a service was provided via synchronous, real‑time audio‑video telehealth rather than in‑person. Per CMS, AAPC and professional associations, append modifier 95 to claim…- Use modifier 95 to indicate a service was furnished via synchronous, real‑time audiovisual telehealth (a live audio‑video conference between patient and provider) rather than in‑person. - Pair…
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    208800000X
    207V00000X
    174400000X
    363A00000X
    3336N0007X
    2082S0099X
    207UN0901X
    261QC1500X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    20 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    N40.0Benign prostatic hyperplasia without lower urinary tract symptoms
    N42.1Congestion and hemorrhage of prostate
    N43.3Hydrocele, unspecified
    N84.0Polyp of corpus uteri
    N91.2Amenorrhea, unspecified
    N92.0Excessive and frequent menstruation with regular cycle
    N92.6Irregular menstruation, unspecified
    N93.8Other specified abnormal uterine and vaginal bleeding
    N95.1Menopausal and female climacteric states
    N97.9Female infertility, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 20

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Obstetrics/Gynecology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Abortion ServicesNew Mexico Health Care Authority2027-01-01
    Prolonged Services for Labor ManagementPremera Bluecross2027-01-01
    Prolonged Services for Labor ManagementPremera Bluecross2027-01-01
    Maternal Serum Testing for Prediction of Adverse Obstetric OutcomesPremera Bluecross2026-10-01
    Maternal Serum Testing for Prediction of Adverse Obstetric OutcomesPremera Bluecross2026-10-01
    Maternal Serum Testing for Prediction of Adverse Obstetric OutcomesBlue Cross Blue Shield - Massachusetts2026-10-01
    Cervical Cancer ScreeningOscar Health2026-10-01
    Prenatal Testing for Fetal AneuploidyOscar Health2026-10-01
    Diagnosis of VaginitisOscar Health2026-10-01
    Prenatal Screening (Nongenetic)Oscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-76830-TRANSVAGINAL-ULTRASOUND-PELVIC-IMAGING

    CPT 76830: Transvaginal Ultrasound of Female Pelvis

    CPT-76831-HYSTEROSONOGRAPHY-SALINE-INFUSION-ULTRASOUND

    CPT 76831: Sonohysterography with Saline Infusion and Ultrasound

    CPT-76857-PELVIC-ULTRASOUND-DIAGNOSTIC-IMAGING

    CPT 76857: Pelvic Ultrasound, Diagnostic Real-Time Imaging

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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